Many plans cover preventive services at no cost when specific guidelines are met. However, addressing additional concerns during the same visit may result in charges applied to your insurance.
In most cases, insurance does not cover 100% of medical costs. Many plans require patients to share in the cost of care through copays, deductibles, and coinsurance, even when services are medically necessary.
A deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket each year before your insurance begins covering certain services. Until your deductible is met, you may be responsible for most or all of the visit cost.
A copay is a fixed dollar amount you pay at the time of your visit. Copays vary depending on your insurance plan and the type of visit.

Patient responsibilities such as copays, deductibles, and known balances are due at the time of service. Remaining balances are billed after insurance processing.
Coinsurance is a percentage of the visit cost that you pay after meeting your deductible. For example, if your plan has 20% coinsurance, insurance covers 80% and you are responsible for the remaining 20%.
Out-of-pocket costs are the portion of your healthcare expenses that you are responsible for paying, including deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
U.S. health insurance uses multiple cost-sharing “buckets” — premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket limits — that determine how healthcare costs are shared between you and your insurance company.